Method of forming a building

ABSTRACT

A building and method and apparatus for making a building at a job-site location is disclosed. The roof, side walls and end walls are made of similar skin and frame panels that are roll-formed on the job site, cut to length, have holes formed therein and are crimped to form bends in the roof and side wall panels to form interfitting portions at the corner of the roof and side walls. The panels are placed on a framing jig and seamed at connecting flanges and gussets are secured at inside corners to form a roof and side wall building section. These building sections may be a single skin panel and frame panel or multiples thereof. A multiple of two is shown. A roof truss may be fastened to the roof section for wider buildings. The framing jig is adjustable in size and shape to form buildings of different heights and widths. The framing jig shown is lifted by actuating hydraulic cylinders and a formed building section is seamed to a previously raised building section. The framing jig and lifting apparatus is moved along guide rails on the foundation and indexed in holes in the guide rails for the proper location of each newly formed building section. The raised building sections are fastened to the same base members on the foundation that form the guide rails using base clips. Panel assemblies and connecting apparatus are disclosed.

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.209,310, filed Mar. 14, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,628, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 810,218, filedDec. 19, 1991 now abandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to buildings and more particularly to a novel andimproved building and to a method and apparatus for making a buildingsuitable for job-site construction.

BACKGROUND ART

A common practice in the metal building industry has been to makebuildings using rigid steel or wooden frames, and to cover these frameswith galvanized steel sheet or painted steel or aluminum sheet. Thissheet is rolled to various profiles for stiffening effect, aesthetics,or to facilitate the joining of adjacent cover sheets to each other.These metal buildings have been traditionally designed and fabricatedin-plant as kits for complete buildings of a specified dimension, thenpackaged and shipped to the distributor and ultimately the end userwhere the parts are finally assembled at the job site. This assemblyprocess requires heavy cranes to erect relatively heavy steel frames andhundreds of hours to screw fasten the metal sheets onto the purlinstructures of these frames.

Some of the disadvantages of these prior building practices are that theultimate user must often order the building well in advance ofinstallation, must absorb high costs in packaging, shipping, insuranceas well as final assembly. Nor do these prior practices provide anyopportunity for changes in the final dimension or size in the building.Once ordered, the user cannot readily change an original choice.

With regard to earlier building practices, Gross U.S. Pat. No. 586,658shows a sheet metal ceiling wherein two sections of sheet metal havingformed edges are seamed or joined together with a hangar sheet which isitself nailed to a wooden ceiling joist or the like.

Schroyer U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,028 discloses generally channel-shapedpanels used on both ceiling and roof structures.

Curran U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,608,267 and 3,557,511 disclose the use of twopanels connected together with one panel being provided with anadditional web formed as extension of one side wall to form a structuralfloor.

In earlier patents having the same inventor as the present application abuilding disclosed therein offered alternatives to many of the abovementioned problems of the rigid-frame pre-engineered building. Thisbuilding system is identified as K-SPAN and is described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,842,647, 3,902,288, 3,967,430, 4,505,084 and 4,505,143. Thisbuilding has curved metal panels roll formed at the job site, seamedtogether and placed upright to form round profile buildings of mediumspan.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a buildingthat is particularly suited for being constructed at the job site. Bothskin panels and frame panels are roll-formed into a desired channelshape from coils of galvanized sheet metal using portable roll-formingapparatus. The roof, side and end walls have the same panelconfiguration. Both skin and frame panels are fabricated using aportable seamer into an integral panel building section on a framing jigand lifting apparatus that raises the panel building section into placeon a foundation, as completed sections of the building. Subsequent panelbuilding sections are assembled, raised and side flanges are interlockedwith the flanges of already standing panel building sections and thenboth sections are typically seamed together by a portable seamer.External fasteners are eliminated or minimized by seaming flanges ofskin panels right onto frame panel flanges as well as to each other witha single pass of a portable seamer. No lifting crane is required aspanel building sections are set in place by the framing jig and liftingapparatus. A rivet-type fastener is used to join roof and side wallframe panels at adjacent associated frame panels in place of screw orbolt fasteners. The resulting building is more weather resistant, costsless, goes up quicker and has a cleaner exterior appearance.

Another panel assembly and method for making has a skin panel with aninturned connecting flange portion with a terminal section, a framepanel with a transverse connecting flange portion and a second skinpanel having an outturned connecting flange portion. The terminalsection being turned back over end portions of said inturned andtransverse connecting flange portions forming a hem to connect or lockthe three panels together at a continuous seam lock.

A panel connecting apparatus has a base plate with two spaced supportrollers and a pivot plate connected to the base plate that will movefrom side to side between two operating positions. An engagement rollermounted on the pivot plate has a first operating position or a secondoperating position depending on the direction of movement of theapparatus along the panels. The rollers push a connecting flange portionof a frame panel into a connecting flange portion of a skin panel and aconnecting flange portion of a second skin panel into the connectingflange portions of the previously connected panels. Another panelconnecting apparatus has a support plate on which two spaced guiderollers and an opposed relatively large hem roller are mounted. Whenmoved along the connecting flange portion of three panels the hem rollerturns a terminal section of a connecting flange portion of a skin paneldown and in to connect, or lock, the three panels together along acontinuous seam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Details of this invention are described in connection with theaccompanying drawings which like parts bear similar reference numeralsin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building embodying features of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternative mounting for the base clipshown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through the flange connecting portions of twoskin panels and one frame panel shown in FIG. 3 prior to seaming.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 after seaming.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an alternative flange connecting portionfor the skin panel prior to seaming.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the seamed joint using the flangeconnecting portion of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a portion of the crimped roof skinpanel.

FIG. 11 is a bottom inside perspective view of the crimped side wallpanel and portion of the interfitting roof panel.

FIG. 12 is a bottom outside perspective view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the gusset plates fastening the roofand side wall frame panels.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14--14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an A-type of roof truss.

FIG. 16 is an end elevational view of a portion of the truss structureshown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 17A is a schematic diagram of one form of scissors-type roof truss.

FIG. 17B is a schematic diagram of another form of scissors-type rooftruss.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a framing jig and lifting apparatus ina lowered position.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an end elevational view of a portion of the framing jig andlifting apparatus in the down position.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line 21--21 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along line 22--22 of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is an schematic, partially exploded view of the roof, side walland lateral supports.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the side wall supports of threedifferent lengths.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of two roof sections of different lengths.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the fastening of the roof supportend section to the side wall support section.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the fastening of the roof apex sectionto the interchangeable roof support end section.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an assembled skin and frame panelsection shown mounted on the framing jig and lifting apparatus.

FIG. 29 is a sectional view taken along line 29--29 of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a top plan view of FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is an end elevational view showing the framing jig and liftingapparatus with panels partially raised.

FIG. 32 is a side elevational view showing the framing jig and liftingapparatus with panels in a fully raised position and fastened to anadjacent panel section.

FIG. 33 is a sectional view of the raised panel section prior to beingmoved to a lowered position as seen in FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a skin and frame panel assembly shownin a down position mounted on a jig and lifting apparatus withconnecting apparatus in place on the down panel assembly and a raisedpanel assembly.

FIG. 35 is a sectional view taken along line 35--35 of FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of inturned connecting flange portion of askin panel.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of transverse connecting flange portion ofa frame panel.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of outturned connecting flange portion ofa skin panel.

FIG. 39 shows partial insertion of the transverse connecting flangeportion of frame panel into the inturned connecting flange portion of askin panel.

FIG. 40 shows the transverse connecting flange portion of the framepanel fully inserted into the flange portion of the skin panel.

FIG. 41 shows partial insertion for the outturned connecting flangeportion of a skin panel into the assembly of FIG. 40.

FIG. 42 shows full insertion of the outturned connecting flange portionof FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 shows a terminal section of the assembly of FIG. 42 turned to aconnecting position.

FIG. 44 shows positions of three panels when one is in place and twoothers are moved so the connecting flange portions fit over one theconnecting flange portions in place.

FIG. 45 is a rear perspective view of panel connecting apparatusembodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is a front perspective view of the panel connecting apparatusshown in FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the apparatus shownin FIGS. 45 and 46 but with two panels shown being connected by theapparatus.

FIG. 48 is a sectional view taken along lines 48--48 of FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 is a sectional view taken along line 49--49 of FIG. 47.

FIG. 50 is a rear perspective view of another panel connecting apparatusembodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 51 is a front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 50.

FIG. 52 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the apparatus shown inFIGS. 50 and 51 with the handle and hem roller in the retractedposition.

FIG. 53 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the apparatus with thehandle and hem roller in an extended operating position.

FIG. 54 is a sectional view taken along line 54--54 of FIG. 52.

FIG. 55 is a sectional view taken along line 55--55 of FIG. 53.

FIG. 56 is an enlarged view of the hem and one guide roller in theretracted position and the associated flange connecting portions of thethree panels being connected.

FIG. 57 is an enlarged view of the hem and one guide roller in theextended operating position and showing the terminal section turned downand in.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Building

A building embodying features of the present invention generallydesignated by reference numeral 20 in general as shown includes afooting or foundation 21 typically rectangular in shape and typicallyconcrete upon which there is supported a pair of oppositely disposedside walls 22 and a pair of oppositely disposed end walls 23. A pitchedroof 24 is shown supported on and fastened to the side walls. A typicalbuilding may have a door 25 and a window 26 in a side wall and may havea drive-in entry 27 in an end wall.

Guide and Anchor Base Assembly

A base member 31 of right angle profile extends in a straight line alongthe top of the foundation and is suitably fastened thereto as by anchorbolts 32. The base member has an inturned bottom leg 33 and an uprightleg 34. The bottom leg is provided with holes 35 disposed at selecteddistances apart, typically 18 inches, which receive the upper ends ofthe anchor bolts 32 and have nuts threaded thereon to anchor the basemember 31 to the foundation. The upright leg is provided with holes 36 aselected distance apart, typically 18 inches, provides fixed locationsfor the side wall frame panels and also serves to index or locate theframing jig and lifting apparatus 90 described hereinafter at thecorrect position as the building is assembled. The upright legs 34 forma pair of parallel spaced guide rails for the framing jig and liftingapparatus 90. The holes 35 in the bottom leg are shown offset 9 inchesfrom the holes in the upright leg.

A base clip 38 of right angle profile with two legs 39 and 41 is used tofasten or anchor the bottom of each side wall frame panel to the basemember 31. Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 each base clip 38 is arrangedon its side with one leg 39 fastened to the upright leg 34 of the basemember by a bolt and nut fastener 42. An alternative to nuts and boltsfor fastening the base clips would be welding. The other leg 41 of thebase clip is shown fastened to the side wall frame panel 52S by a pairof spaced bolt-nut fasteners 44. An alternative fastening or anchoringshown in FIG. 5 has the base clip 38 upright on the bottom leg 33 of thebase member. A screw and nut fastener 46 extends through holes in thebottom leg 33 and base leg 39 and a nut is threaded to the screw. Theother leg 41 of the base clip is fastened to the side wall frame panelby the two bolt-nut fasteners 44 the same way as in FIG. 4.

Skin and Frame Panels

Both the walls and the roof of the building are made up of a pluralityof similar skin panels and frame panels. The side wall skin panels aredesignated 51S and the roof skin panel 51R. The side wall frame panelsare designated 52S and the roof frame panel 52R. These panels are madeat the job site using portable roll-forming apparatus preferably mountedon a trailer for portability that takes coil stock and forms the panelsinto a desired shape and cuts the panels to the desired length.

Generally, each skin panel is generally channel-shaped and has agenerally flat intermediate base 53 and two side walls 54 and 55extending away from opposite sides of the base. The panels may takedifferent channel-shaped configurations but the preferred one shown hastwo laterally spaced longitudinal ribs 56 in the base for strength andhas angled corner sections 57 at the corners of the base and side walls.A female connecting flange portion 58 is provided at the extremity ofone side wall and a male connecting flange portion 59 is provided at theextremity of the other side wall. The female connecting flange portion58 specifically has an inturned section 61 and a downturned end flange62. For some assembly situations end flange 62 may extend laterallystraight out. The male connecting flange portion has an inturned flangesection 63 looped back at a bend and an inturned flange section 64.Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9 there is shown an alternative male flange63a that does not loop back. The male flange 62a folds back over onlytwo thicknesses. Each skin panel preferably is sheet metal and has athickness in the range of about 0.02 to 0.04 inches.

Each frame panel 52S or 52R has an intermediate web 66 and a side wall67 and end flange 68 extending away from opposite sides of the web andgenerally transverse thereto. End flange 68 is a male flange connectionportion. Side wall 67 has an end flange 69. Each frame panel preferablyis sheet metal and has a thickness in the range of about 0.03 inches to0.07 inches.

Dual Skin-Single Frame Panel Section

A dual skin-single frame panel section 150 used in both the side and endwalls and the roof has the male connecting flange portions 68 and 59 ofa frame panel and a second skin panel disposed inside the femaleconnecting flange portion of the first frame panel with the end flange62 of the first panel turned in and under the male connecting flangeportions 68 and 59 to form a continuous seam that secures the two skinpanels and the frame panel together. This seam is usually done by aportable seamer that moves along the panels once they are placed in theposition as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. Seamers suitable for this purposeare disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,107.

Roof-Side Wall Corner Joint

The panels for both the roof and side and end walls are initially rollformed as a skin straight panel that is cut to a selected length. In theroof skin panel 51R two spaced crimps or bends 71 are put in each panelintermediate its length to form an intermediate apex section 72 and twooppositely disposed end sections 73 as seen in FIG. 10. Each side wallskin panel 51S is initially made as a straight panel that is cut to aselected length and then a crimp or bend 75 of a selected inside anglesuch as 75° is put in the panel a short distance in from the top end toprovide an inclined section 76 and a vertical section 77. The sidewall-roof inside corner joint is made by having an end portion of theend section 73 of the roof skin panel nesting in the inclined section 76of the side wall skin panel and extends beyond the side wall skin panela short distance to provide a roof overhang. The profiles or crosssections of the roof and side wall panels are complementary in shape sothey nest in and interfit with one another as seen in FIGS. 11 and 12.Only the skin panels and not the frame panels are crimped as abovedescribed.

A corner gusset plate 79 is fastened between each side wall frame panel52S and the adjacent aligned roof frame panel 52R along the inside uppercorner of the building as seen in FIG. 14. This gusset plate is a pieceof sheet metal that is cut to a shape to fit in the inside upper corner.A gusset plate 80 is fastened to the frame panels at the apex inside theroof sections. The gusset plates fasten to the frame panels of the wallsand roof to provide structural rigidity. Holes are punched in eachgusset plate and in the frame panels and a rivet-type fastener F is usedto make the connection. This is done on the framing jig and liftingapparatus prior to lifting the single roof-single side wall panelbuilding section 160 into place as is described hereinafter. Therivet-type fastener F is described in detail in my above mentionedcopending application entitled FASTENING APPARATUS AND METHOD ANDRIVET-TYPE FASTENER. This fastener F shown has a rolled flange atopposite ends of a size larger than the holes through which it passesand has an internal diameter at least four times the thickness of thepanels and trusses through which it passes. The preferred ratio is inthe range of about 4 to 1 to 15 to 1. The external diameter of thefastening section is in the range of about 0.5 to 1.50 inches.

Roof Trusses

For a wider building, roof trusses preferably are added to the roofsection. The A-type roof truss 81 shown in FIG. 15 has a horizontalmember 82 extending between the gusset plates 79 at the inner corners.The roof skin panel 51R is the same on both sides of the roof apex. Eachside section of the roof is divided into two equally spaced connectingpoints between the apex and outer end to provide three parts of equallength. A diagonal strut member 83 extends from the outer connectingpoint to a connecting point midway between the middle of the horizontalmember 82. A diagonal strut member 84 connects between the connectingpoint with members 83 and 82 and the inner connecting point of the roofside section. A diagonal member 85 extends between the inner connectingpoint to the midpoint of the horizontal member. A vertical strut member86 extends between the apex of the roof and midpoint of the horizontalmember.

The scissors-type roof truss 87 shown in FIG. 17A again has each half ofthe roof section divided into thirds by two connecting points betweenthe apex and outer end. A diagonal member 88 on each side extends fromthe gusset plate at the top of the side wall to an inner connectingpoint on the opposite roof section with respect to the apex. Verticalstrut member sections 89a and 89b connect the upper and lower sections.A central vertical strut member 89c extends between the apex and theintersection of the two diagonal members. A diagonal strut member 89dconnects between the roof section and diagonal member between upper andlower connection portions. An alternative roof truss shown in FIG. 17Bhas the diagonal strut member 88a extend to the midpoint of the oppositeroof section and uses only an intermediate vertical strut member 89a anda center vertical strut member 89c.

The truss members are shown fastened to the side wall and roof framepanels using the above described rivet-type fasteners F. This assemblyis done prior to lifting the single roof-side wall panel buildingsection 160.

Framing Jig and Lifting Apparatus

The framing jig and lifting apparatus 90 shown, in general, includes apair of laterally spaced side base members 91 each having a side pivotarm 92 pivotally connected at one end to an end of the associated sidebase member by a pivot shaft 93 to rotate about a pivot axis X. Theframing jig includes a pair of parallel spaced side wall supports 95mounted on associated side pivot arms 92, a pitched roof support 96connected to the upper ends of the side wall support and a lateralsupport 97 connected between the side wall supports 95. To life theframing jig, a pair of hydraulic cylinders 98 are connected between eachside base member 91 at pin 98a and the associated end frame of lateralsupport 97 at pin 98b on a clevis which when extended will raise theframing jig from a down to an up position and return the framing jig tothe down position when retracted. It is understood that other motivepower could be used to raise and lower the framing jig such as a hoiston a truck or the like.

Each side base member 91 has an outer side plate 101, top plate 102 andinner side plate 103 with three spaced flanged rollers 104 mountedbetween the outer and inner plates. Each flanged roller has a groove toreceive the upstanding leg of the base member along which it rolls. Twoindexing mechanisms 106 are shown mounted to the outer side plates atspaced positions. Each indexing mechanism 106 includes a pin 107 movedby a lever 108. An indexing mechanism found suitable is a model CL 250TPC manufactured by Cart Lane Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo. Eachside pivot arm 92 includes a base plate 111 and an intermediate uprightplate 112. An associated side wall support 95 rests on and extends alongand is fastened to the outside of the upright plate 112 by bolts 113 toenable different lengths of side wall supports 112 to be readilyinterchanged. One end of the lateral support 97 extends along and isfastened to the inside of the upright plate 112 by bolts. The side wallsupports 95 are provided with a plurality of spaced upright plates 94along one side which provide a support surface for the side wall andbase of the skin panel as seen in FIG. 29.

The side wall supports 95 are of a truss type construction includingparallel spaced longitudinal members with transverse members anddiagonal members connected at the ends to the longitudinal members. Theside supports are made in selected different lengths such as a 10 footsection 95a, a 12 foot section 95b and a 14 foot section 95c and areinterchangeable to enable buildings of different heights to beconstructed.

The roof support 96 is also of a truss-type construction includingparallel spaced longitudinal members with transverse members anddiagonal members connected at the ends to the longitudinal members. Theroof support has an apex section 99 and interchangeable roof endsections 100 of different lengths to accommodate buildings of differentwidths. The roof end sections shown are a 24 foot section 100a and a 36foot section 100b as examples. In practice, 24, 30, 36 and 42 footlengths are used.

Referring now to FIG. 26 the upper end of the side support 95 has an endplate 109 and the end section 100 of the roof has a flat plate 110 andbolt and nut fasteners 110a extend through holes in these end plates toafford ready interchangeability. The roof end section 100 has an endplate 120 and apex section 99 an end plate 118 with holes that receivebolt fasteners 119 to afford ready interchangeability of roof endsections

The lateral support 97 is constructed to have its lateral extent orwidth dimension readily changed to provide for the construction ofbuildings of selected different widths. In the embodiment shown anddescribed herein the lateral support will accommodate buildings havingwidths of 24 feet to 42 feet in 6 foot increments.

The lateral support 97 has a pair of identical fixed width end sections114 (17 inches), a fixed width inside section 115 (26 inches), thatco-operates with the end section, at least two interchangeableintermediate sections 116 (36 inches), and a fixed width center section117 (54 inches). The width of the lateral support is changed by changingthe number of intermediate sections 116.

Each end section 114 includes a rectangular end frame having spacedupright members 122 and 123 secured at lower ends to side pivot arm 92and a top member 124 arranged in a rectangular configuration. A coilspring 130 fastens to member 122 to absorb the shock of the supportassembly being disposed upright. Tubular sections 126 of a selectedlength extend inwardly from each of the corners of the end frame. Theinside section 115 has three tubular sections 127 that aretelescopically received in associated of the tubular sections 126 of theend section. The intermediate sections 116 bolt fasten to one anotherand to the center section. Each intermediate section 116 is generallyL-shaped with an upright box forming one leg and a base box forming theother leg along with diagonal members for each box and a diagonal memberconnecting the boxes. These intermediate sections 116 stack forconvenience of shipping.

For making a 24 foot wide building two intermediate sections 116 areused on each side. A 30 foot wide building has three intermediatesections for each side. A 36 foot wide building has four intermediatesections on each side. A 42 foot wide building has five intermediatesections on each side.

Assembly Method

A full sequence of constructing the building using the above describedpanels are apparatus will now be described. The building width isselected using a selected number of intermediate sections 116 and aselected length of roof end section 100. Referring now to FIG. 29, apair of side wall skin panels 51S and a roof skin panel 51R are placedon the associated supports of the framing jig. This framing jig locatesthe formed panels and clamps 128 hold the panels in position on the sidewall supports 95 and roof support 96.

In sequence, for forming both the side walls, end walls and roofsections, the male connecting flange portion 68 of a first frame panelis inserted into the female connecting flange portion 58 of the firstskin panel followed by the insertion of the male connecting flangeportion 59 of a second skin panel into the female connecting flangeportion of the first panel. A seamer then joins the two skin panels tothe frame panel to form a dual skin-single frame panel section 150. Thegusset plates 79 are riveted with fasteners F at the juncture betweenthe seamed roof frame panel and the upper end of each seamed side wallframe panel to form a single roof-single side wall panel buildingsection 160. Gusset plate 80 may then be fastened in place. The maleconnection flange portion 59 of a second frame panel is inserted intothe female flange portion of the second panel and clamped in place byclamps 128 on support plates 128a. This then forms a dual skin-dualframe panel section 170 which when done for both side walls and roofprovides a dual roof-dual side wall panel building section 180.

If a roof truss is to be added this is fastened as shown in FIGS. 15-17.This dual roof-dual side wall panel building section 180 is raised bythe lift apparatus by actuating the hydraulic cylinders 98 to an uprightposition as is shown in FIGS. 21 and 24. FIG. 33 shows that the femaleconnecting flange portion 58 of the roof skin panel 51R having the maleconnecting flange portion 68 of building section 180 will drop down overthe male connecting flange portion 59 of the adjoining skin panel 51Rthat is in place in an upright position and then the joint is seamed sothat an already existing building section would be fastened to the nextbuilding section. In practice the formed building section is clamped tothe existing section and when the lifting apparatus is removed and theclamps are released so the flange of the next building section will dropinto place to be seamed. While building section 180 shown is composed oftwo skin panels and two frame panels it is understood that only one skinpanel and one frame panel can be assembled and raised as above describedfor two skin and two frame panels. It is also understood that othermultiples could be assembled and raised into position according to thepresent invention.

Once in the upright position the side wall frame panel sections areanchored or fastened to the base using base clips 38 and bolt and nutfasteners as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The framing jig and lifting apparatus90 is moved along the opposed rails and locked into the next positionusing the indexing mechanisms 106 and the holes 36 in the upright leg ofthe base member 31. The base members 31 have extensions 31a along eachside to allow apparatus 90 to travel past the foundation. Theseextensions 31a are cut off flush with the end walls after the assemblyof the side walls of the building.

Referring now to FIGS. 34-38 there is shown another form of skin panel201 and another form of frame panel 202. Each skin panel 201 in generalhas the same features of construction as the above described skin panels51S and 51R. Each skin panel 201 differs in connecting flangeconstruction by having an inturned connecting flange portion 204 at theextremity of one side wall and an outturned connecting flange portion205 at the extremity of the other side wall. Each inturned connectingflange portion 204 is generally U-shaped and arranged transverse to theassociated side wall. More specifically has an inturned leg 207, acurved bend 208, and an outturned leg 209 with a terminal section 211.The inturned connecting flange portion 204 has a flange opening 212 thatfaces out relative to the associated side wall.

The outturned connecting flange portion 205 is generally U-shaped and isarranged transverse to the associated side wall. The flange portion 205has an outturned leg 214, a curved bend 215 and an inturned leg 216providing a flange opening 218 that faces in relative to the associatedside wall.

Each frame panel 202 has an intermediate web 221, a transverseconnecting flange portion 222 and a transverse wall 223 extending fromopposite ends of the web and generally transverse thereto. Thetransverse connecting flange portion 222 has a leg 224, curved bend 225and return leg 226 with a flange opening 227.

For connecting two skin panels 201 and a frame panel 202 together in adown position on the jig and lifting apparatus 90, as shown the inturnedconnecting flange portion 204 of a first skin panel has the flangeopening 212 facing up as seen in FIGS. 35 and 39. The transverseconnecting flange portion 222 of the frame panel 202 is positionedinside the facing up inturned flange portion 204. This is done either byslidably telescoping one within the other by inserting at the end or maybe done by inserting the transverse flange portion partially inside theinturned flange portion via the flange opening 212 (FIG. 39). A panelconnecting apparatus 229 is then used to connect the panels together.The panel connecting apparatus 229 has opposed rollers 321 and 313 or314 that push or press one connecting flange portion into the otherconnecting flange portion. The connecting apparatus 221 is then used topush or press the outturned flange connecting portion 205 of a secondskin panel inside the transverse connecting flange portion 222 viaopening 227 as seen in FIG. 41 as the apparatus 229 is moved along thepanels. Another panel connecting apparatus 231 having opposed rollers345 and 342, 343 operates so that as the connecting apparatus 231 ismoved along the panels it turns the terminal section 211 down back intothe opening in the outturned flange connecting portion 205 to form acontinuous seam as seen in FIGS. 42 and 43. Before the panel assembly israised a second frame panel 202 may be connected to a second skin panel201 using the panel connecting apparatus 229. The panel assembly of thetwo skin panels and two frame panels shown in the drawing may then beraised from a down horizontal position to an up or raised position. Itis understood that only a single skin panel and frame panel may beraised instead of two as shown and described.

Referring now to FIG. 44, in a procedure for connecting the assembledpanel assembly to a skin panel that is already in an up position, theoutturned connecting flange portion 205 faces toward the panel assemblyto be added. The panel assembly is rotated up by the lift mechanism 90and the already assembled transverse connecting flange portion 222 andthe inturned connecting flange portion 204 are placed over the outturnedflange portion 205 of the skin panel 201 in place. The panel connectingapparatus 229 is then used to bring the panel flange portions togetherand panel connecting apparatus 231 is used to turn the terminal section211 back and over the end portions of the other two panels to connectthe three panels together.

The panel connecting apparatus 229 shown in FIGS. 45 to 49 has a baseplate 312 with two spaced tracking or support rollers 313 and 314mounted for free rotation on an associated shaft 311 that extendsthrough a hole in base plate 312. A pivot plate 15 is pivotallyconnected to the base plate 312 by a pivot shaft 316 midway betweenrollers 13 and 14 that extends through a hole in base plate to rotateabout an axis 319. An engagement roller 321 is mounted on the pivotplate. The engagement roller 321 is movable on the pivot plate towardand away from the first support roller 313 or the second support roller314. A handle 322 is mounted to the pivot plate 315 forming a rearwardextension of pivot shaft 311 to enable the operator to grip theapparatus for movement along the panels being connected.

The support rollers 313 and 314 have a U-shaped peripheral groove 323that will engage and run along the outside surface of the bend of theconnecting flange portion of the panel. The engagement roller 321 has anenlarged roller section 324 of greater diameter than smaller diameterhub sections 325 and 326 on either side of enlarged section 324. Thisenlarged roller section 324 has a rounded or radiused peripheral edge327 and is sized in relation to the U-shaped transverse connectingflange portion 222 on the frame panel 202 to move the connecting flangeportion 222 into a nesting relation in the U-shaped inturned connectingflange portion 204 of skin panel 201 via a flange opening 212 as theapparatus is moved along the two panels as seen in FIG. 49. Theconnecting apparatus 229 is also used to insert the outturned connectingflange portion 205 of another skin panel 201 into the connecting flangeportions of the first-mentioned panels via associated flange openings asshown in FIG. 55 with roller section 327 operating in a similar manner.

A locking mechanism is provided to lock the pivot plate 315 to the baseplate 312. This mechanism is carried by the pivot plate and is a pin 333that extends through a hole 334 in the pivot plate 315 and inserts intoa hole 335 in the base plate 312 in a first operating position. A hole336 is also provided on the plate to enable the pin to lock the pivotplate in a second operating position as shown in dashed lines.

A spring 337 in an enlarged section of the hole 336 in the pivot plate315 and surrounding the pin 333 is biased against a flange 338 on thepin 333 to urge the pin in the hole 335 or 336 on the base plate. A knob339 on the pin is gripped by the user to pull the pin 333 from the holeto release the pivot arm for pivotal movement about axis 319.

The pivot plate 315 and roller 321 are shown in a first operatingposition with pin 333 in hole 335. The pivot plate 315 extends or tiltsat an angle of about 45 degrees from a right angle position to the baseplate 12. When the pin is retracted the pivot plate 315 and roller 321can be moved to the transverse or right angle relative to base plate 312which is the retracted position during which the connecting apparatus229 can be placed on the connecting portions of the panel. The pivotplate 315 and roller 321 can then be pivoted to the second operatingposition shown in dashed lines with pin 333 inserted into hole 336 tolock the pivot plate for operation. This enables the apparatus to bemoved in either direction along the panels and readily removed byreleasing the pin and moving the pivot plate to the intermediateretracted position shown in FIGS. 45 and 46.

Panel connecting apparatus 231 shown in FIGS. 50-57 includes a supportplate 341 on which there is mounted two spaced tracking or guide rollers342 and 343 and a hem roller 345 opposite and between guide rollers 342and 343 and between which the connecting flange portions of two panelsto be connected are positioned. Each guide roller is mounted on a shaft344. Each guide roller is mounted on a roller bearing 377 carried onshaft 344 with a through bore 378. A threaded bolt 379 extends throughan elongated hole 381 in the support plate, through the through bore 378of the shaft and has a nut 382 threaded on the end of bolt 379 oppositean allen head 383. A set screw 384 extends up through the end of theplate and bears against the bolt to enable vertical adjustment of theroller 342 relative to the plate 341. This allows slight adjustments ofpositions of the roller 342 relative to hem roller 345 for differenttypes and thicknesses of metals.

The hem roller 345 has a U-shaped peripheral groove 346 bounded on eachside by rounded peripheral portions 346a and 346b of different diameterswith the groove 346 serving to fold the terminal section 211 of thepanel down and in. The larger diameter portion 346a serves as a backstop for the panel connecting flange portion to position the panel inplace. The hem roller 345 is mounted for free rotation on a shaft 347that extends through a hole in plate 341 and is supported to rotateabout an axis 348. The shaft 347 has a flange 349 that butts against oneside of the plate 341 and a threaded portion 351 with a spring washer352 and lock nut 353 to secure the shaft to the plate 341. This assemblyon shaft 347 provides resistance to movement for the shaft 347 as theshaft is rotated. A transverse handle 354 extends through a hole in therear end of the shaft 347 which permits manual rotation of the shaftabout its axis 348. A stop pin 355 affixed to the plate on each side ofthe shaft 347 limits the extent of the rotational movement of the handle354.

The shaft 347 has an offset or eccentric section 356 with a center alongaxis 357 that is spaced a selected distance from axis 348. A rollerbearing 358 mounts on the eccentric section 356 with the hem roller 345being mounted on the bearing 358. In this way when the shaft 347 isrotated about axis 348 the hem roller 345 will move toward the guiderollers 342 and 343 to an operating position and back to a retractedposition. When the handle 354 is moved to an over-center position about10 degrees past a horizontal position as seen in FIG. 53 the hem rolleris in the operating position to turn down the panel terminal section 211to join the panels as is seen in FIG. 57. The over-center position shownis a locking position for the handle and shaft so the hem roller willnot retract during the hemming operation. The reverse retracted positionfor the handle against the opposite pin 355 is also an over-centerlocking position.

A handle 361 is pivotally mounted to the support plate 341 by means of aflange 362 on the plate, a pivot bolt 363 and two plates 364 that fastento the handle, fit over the flange and are pivotally connected by thebolt 363. This allows the handle to swing from side to side. The handle361 enables the user to manually move the panel connecting apparatus 231along the panels.

As seen in FIG. 57 the outer surface of the curved bend of an inturnedconnecting flange portion 204 of a skin panel 201 is disposed in thegroove 340 of the guide rollers 342 and 343. The transverse connectingflange portion 222 of a frame panel 202 and outturned connecting flangeportion 205 of a second seam panel 201 nest in flange portion 204 andthe terminal section 211 is folded back and against the end portions offlange portions 222 and 205 to form a hem that connects, seams or looksthe three panels together along a continuous seam.

The hem roller 345 is made larger than the guide rollers 342 and 343. Inthe embodiment shown the hem roller has an O.D. of 5.5 inches and theguide rollers have an O.D. of 2.75 inches or a ratio of two to one. Arange of ratio of diameters of hem roller to each guide roller of 1.5 to5 to one would be suitable. A larger diameter hem roller contacts theflange sooner, minimizes bending resistance rolls it through a longerarc thereby generating a gentler bending process. Further, less force isrequired to push the apparatus along the panel. While a single smallerguide roller directly opposite the hem roller would be usable, twosmaller spaced rollers provide stability for the apparatus. Additionalsmaller guide rollers may also be used.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degreeof particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade by way of example and that changes in details of structure may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a method of making a building, the stepscomprising:forming first and second skin panels each with a femaleconnecting flange portion at one side and a male connecting flangeportion at an opposite side, said female connecting flange portion beingin the shape of an inverted channel and having an end portion of a sidewall of an associated of said skin panels, a base portion transverse tosaid end portion and an end flange transverse to said base portion andparallel to said end portion, forming a frame panel with a maleconnecting flange portion on one side, placing said skin panels andframe panel side by side with said male connecting flange portions insaid female connecting flange portions and said frame panel extendingbetween and generally transverse to said skin panels, and turning saidend flange of said female connecting flange inwardly and under andpressed against said male connecting flange portions in a seamingoperation to form a continuous seam to form a tight seam lock said skinand frame panels together to form an integral dual skin-single framepanel section.
 2. In a method of making a building, the stepscomprising:forming first and second skin panels each with a femaleconnecting flange portion at one side and a male connecting flangeportion at an opposite side, forming a frame panel with a maleconnecting flange portion on one side, placing said skin panels andframe panel side by side with said male connecting flange portions insaid female connecting flange portions and said frame panel extendingbetween and generally transverse to said skin panels, and turning an endflange of said female connecting flange inwardly and under said maleconnecting flange portions in a seaming operation to form a continuousseam to connect said skin and frame panels together to form an integraldual skin-single frame panel section, said skin and frame panels beingplaced on and fastened to a framing jig and lifting apparatus thatpositions said panels at the correct location in relation to one anotherand maintains said position during said seaming operation and theseaming of an additional frame panel to form a dual skin-dual framepanel building section and raising said formed dual skin-dual framepanel building section to an upright position.
 3. In a method as setforth in claim 2 wherein there is formed two sets of two skin panels andtwo frame panels of a selected length for forming two side walls and twosets of two skin panels and one frame panel of a selected length for aroof with spaced bends intermediate the ends of said roof panel sectionsfor a pitched roof with said panel being seamed together to form a dualskin-dual frame panel building section.
 4. In a method as set forth inclaim 2 including the fastening of said side wall dual skin-dual framepanel sections to said roof skin-panel section at adjacent junctures toform a dual roof-dual side wall panel building section.
 5. In a methodas set forth in claim 2 including the anchoring of said panel buildingsection to a foundation.
 6. In a method as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid skin panels for a side wall are provided with a bend adjacent theupper end of a selected angle to provide an inclined section and avertical section and said skin panels for a pitched roof section areprovided with spaced bends intermediate the ends of the skin panel toform a pitched roof section, said pitched roof panel section beingcomplimentary in shape and interfitting with said inclined section at aninside corner of said side wall and roof skin panel sections.
 7. In amethod of making a straight wall building, the steps comprising:formingtwo sets of two skin panels and two frame panels of selected lengths forforming two side walls, forming a set of two skin panels and one framepanel of selected lengths for a roof, and spaced bends intermediate theends of said roof section skin and frame panels for a pitched roof,mounting said side wall and roof skin panels and frame panels on aframing jig and lifting apparatus, seaming together connecting flangeportions of each of said two skin panels and one frame panel to form anintegral first side wall dual skin-single frame panel section, integralsecond side wall dual skin-single frame panel section, and integral roofdual skin-single frame panel section, fastening said first and secondside wall dual skin-dual frame panel sections to said roof skin-panelsection at adjacent junctions and clamping a second frame panel to eachof said panel sections to form a dual roof-dual side wall panel buildingsection, lifting said panel building section to an upright position, andanchoring said building sections to a supporting foundation.
 8. In amethod as set forth in claim 7 including:providing a base meansincluding a pair of parallel spaced, upright guide rails extending alongthe sides of a foundation, and moving said framing jig and liftingapparatus along said rails for assembly of succeeding panel buildingsections and lifting said panel building sections to an uprightposition.
 9. In a method as set forth in claim 7 wherein each succeedingpanel section is raised above the previous lifted panel section and thesucceeding panel section clamped to the previously lifted panel sectionto position the associated flange connection portions, one flangeconnecting portion being dropped into another flange connecting portionby the removal of the framing jig and lifting apparatus and the releaseof the clamps, the flange connecting portions of the succeeding panelsection being seamed to the previously lifted panel building section.10. In a method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the position of saidframing jig and lifting apparatus is indexed and locked to selectedpositions along said rails.
 11. In a method as set forth in claim 7including the fastening of a roof truss to said dual roof-dual side wallpanel building section prior to lifting.
 12. In a method as set forth inclaim 7 including the adjusting of said framing jig to change the widthand height of the framing jig to change the width and height of thebuilding.
 13. In a method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said guiderails extend beyond the sides of said foundation to enable said framingjig and lifting apparatus to move past the end walls to complete the endof a building.